Deedging machine



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(No Modem W. H. MILLIKEN.

l DREDGING MACHINE. No. 358,686. Patented Manual, 188'?.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.l W. H. MILLIKEN.

DREDGING MACHINE.

No. 358,686. Patented Mar. 1,1887.

(No'Modl.) 4 Sheetssheet 3. W. H. MILLIKEN. DREDGHING MACHINE.

Patented Mar. l, 1887.

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W. H. MILLIKEN. DREDGING MACHINE.

No. 358.686.l Patented-Mar. 1, 1887."

Unfreie drames Partnr Orifice,

WILLIAM H. MILLIKEN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

DREDGING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 358,686, dated March l, 1887.

Application filed March $21, 1885.

To all whom, t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. MILLIKEN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dredging-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description of my said invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, that form apart of this specification.

Dredging-machines of the class to which my improvements more particularly relate are known as suction-dredgers.77 The principal parts or features are a suction-pump, a cutting or excavating implement on the extremity of a swinging boom or arm, a suctionpipe connecting the cutting implement with the suctionpu1np, and mechanism and suitable power for working the pump and moving the swinging carrier and directing its cutting implement against the matter to be dredged. These parts are mounted upon a boat or scow for convenience of moving and handling the ap paratus, with the swinging carrier projecting from the end in suitable position to cut or opcrate upon the dredged material as the dredging implement is carried by it from side to side, and the material as it is loosened is drawn upward and discharged by the action of the pump through the suctioirpipe and by means of other conductors leading away from the pump.

My improvements in respect of thesc parts comprisca cutting or excavating implement of novel construction and improved operation, a swinging arm or carrier that is also a con ducting-pipe between the excavating implement and suction-pump, an improved swing ing'joint to connect the movable arm with a fixed section of pipe on the scow, and a movable chatngroller to protect the cables that operate the swinging carrier; also, and in ad dition to these new features of the apparatus, the invention comprises the combination of self-regulating guide-sheaves with the swinging carrier and its cables by which it is moved from side to side in the operation of dredging. These parts, their construction and operation, and the manner in which they are combined with suitable mechanism to produce a dredging-machine of the suction kind are fully set Serial No. 159,664. (No model.)

forth in the following description, the said drawings, in four sheets, being referred to by figures and letters.

Figure lis a general side elevation of a dredging-scow with my improvements mounted thereon, and in connection therewith mechanism for moving the swinging arm or carrier from side to side and for raising it `up and for lowering it to its work. Fig. 2 is plan or top view of the end of the scow where the parts ot' the apparatus are placed, with the mechanism for raising and lowering the suction-pipe removed. Fig. 3 is a detail of the construction of the chaiing-rollers. Fig. 4. 'is a sectional view through the joint or coupling between theswinging and the fixed section of suction-pipe. Fig. 5 shows the construction ofthe outer end of the swinging pipe and the cuttingimplement that is mounted onit. Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are detail views, on a larger scale, of the cutting implement.

The pipe or tube A is a swinging extension of a stationary suction-pipe, B, that extends from the pumping apparatus over the side or end of the boat IV. These two parts are connected by a ball-andsocket joint that permits the part A both to move vertically and to swing laterally in the are of a circle.

'The excavating or cutting implement C is mounted on the outer' end of this swinging pipe. It consists of a cylindrical chamber' closed by a head, C', at the outer end and having the pipe A connected to or a continuation of theinner or open end. Atelescopic joint is made at this point by suitably joining the chamber C to or forming it in one piece with a sliding section, A=, that is fitted into the pipe A, so that the implement can be advanced or retracted in alongitudinal direction. rllhis cylindrical extension or part A* is of suitable length to give the desired amount of extension for this movement of the implement, and the movement is effected by a hydraulic cylinder, E, havingitspiston-rod El: connected at e to a ring on the sliding section and the spaces on both sides of its piston E2 communicating through pipes F F with a suitable source of liquid`pressure located on the boat. By means of the usual cocks in these pipes the flow and pressure are controlled and the movement of the piston produced in one direction IOO or the other, as required. At such time one pipe forms a supply and the other pipe a relieforwaste-conductor. Theconstruction and mode of connection of this hydraulic device, however, will be readily understood by those familiar with hydraulic machinery of the kind, so that a more detailed description of these parts is not considered necessary.

The pipes F F from the hydraulic cylinder E run along the swinging pipe to the center of movement or universal joint, at which point flexible or swinging joints f connect them with the pipes F on the boat.

The excavator C has a mouth or inlet-apen ture, 0*, along the bottom or under side, through which the material is taken up into the chamber of the excavator, and within this inlet a-cutting and yexcavating tool, G, formed of two curved blades, g g, placed back to back, is suspended from hinge attachments along the upper part or roof of the chamber, from which points it swings freely in both directions. This suspension is by arms or straps h from a rod or shaft, h, inside the chamber, and the cutting or scraping edges of the blades curve outwardly, so as to present a cuttingedge, g, in either direction of movement of the excavator. By this construction the full size of the aperture c* is obtained for each cutting-edge at its time of action, as the cutter swings back when the excavator moves against the material, and leaves the opening of its full width while the movement continues. Upon the return, when the implement moves in the contrary direction, the cutter shifts its position and the other cutting-edge g becomes the leading edge.

Upon the curved blades g are xed points or shares I, like the shares of plows or cultivators in form and similar in action. They are applied more especially for use in hard or close heavy material, and in situations where the blades g may require the assistance of some such device to break up and loosen the matter to a sufficient degree to enter and be taken into the chamber and be properly acted on by the suction. Each share is fastened to the curved blades in such manner that it may be removed for repairs or when not required for use. Cross-braces el are applied to the curved lblades underneath for the purpose of stiffening them.

On the head of the excavator are mounted a number of curved points or fingers, J, much like a pickin form as well as in action, and having curved ends and an eye in the middle of the bodyl to receive a center bolt or rod, 7c. Bearings for this center bolt are provided in ears or projections m on the head, and the points J being set into the spaces afforded between ,the projections, the one bolt k serves to x them all in place. The points swing or rock on this fastening in such manner as to throw the forward or leading end of the points outward. j To prevent the mud or other matter from lodging behind the points at the hinge or pivot, the head of the excavator is cut out between the bearings m to afford openings m m', communicating with the interior space of the suction-chamber. These openings are seen in Fig. 8. In the operation of the excavator these points are pressed into the vertical face or bank atthe head of the cut made by the sweep of the implement, and the matter loosened and broken away by their advance is thrown down within the influence and range of the suction and the scraping-blades g.

The manner in which I construct the joint or coupling will be understood from the detail view, Fig. 4. The endof the swinging section, having an upward turn, terminates in a spherical head, c, to t a socket of corresponding shape, b, in the end ofthe depending stationary section B,that is carried over the side of the boat. A suspension-bolt, N, supports the end of the swinging section, and also holds the parts of the joint together. yThis bolt passes through along hub or bearing, p, lixed in the center of the socket-section B by the ribs or spider q, and at the lower end has an eye, a, to take a pin, s, in the knuckle-plate t on the section or part c of the joint. plate t has two knuckles, t* ft, which `are set up into the pipe from the bottom through an aperture, u, and the pipe A itself is provided with a dat seat, V, that is formed by setting up the bottom of the pipe at the turn or elbow. The aperture u, being smaller than the plate t, is covered by it and the opening is closed when the nuts w on the threaded end of the bolt are screwed down.

Between the nuts and the xed bearing p is interposed a spring, L, to take up the wear of the parts and give the joint a certain liexibility. This construction is strong, simple, and free from tendency to choke and interfere The.

ICO

rent of matter.

The boom X, that carries the outer end of I the swinging pipe, is supported at the peak by a top and lift77 running out from the upright frame or derrickY on the end of the boat, while at the heel it rests and travels on a circular ring or flange, b2, on the 'fixed section of pipe B.

Vertical movement of the excavator, both to increase the depth of the excavation and to raise and lower the implement,l as required, to bring it into and out of operation, is produced by the rope and tackle R RX, of which one pulley, RXX, is a traveler having connection ofthe end of the swinging pipe made to it by a sling, R2. The draft ofthe rope B is therefore always vertical from the peak of the boom whatever to the inclination of the pipe.

Lateral movement of the swinging pipe is obtained by means of cables M M', running from the sides of the boat outward to the pipe, and connected on the boat to suitable winding machinery, lone cable being released and paid out as the other one is drawn in. The machinery I have applied for the purpose both for these cables and for the hoisting mechanism is hydraulic cylinders, of which one, T, is placed in the center to operate the hoistingrope, and the others, T T', are located at the sides for the cables M. These cylinders are constructed and applied after the manner of hydraulic hoisting machinery, and are supplied with water or other liquid at required pressure through pipes from a head or pressu ure in a reservoir, which is maintained by suitable pumping apparatus on the boat; but as this character of machinery. and apparatus is already well known and can be readily applied by those familiar with the same, it is not necessary to describe the details more particularly.

The line of draft of the cables M is kept as nearly as possible perpendicular to the swinging pipe by placing guidesheaves H H on the ends of swinging arms H, one at each side, and then, by means of ropes r r r', conning the arms in their movements,so that they keep, while traveling around with the swinging pipe, a position at right angles or thereabout to each other. These arms H are braced by rods pivoted at h3 to the sides of the swinging pipe, and are limited in their movements upon these centers by the ropes r. As they move around from side to side with the pipe, they keep the pull or strain of the cables in such direct line that the greatest possible extent of movement is obtained, and at the same time they do not prevent the swinging pipe from taking the extreme position to one side or the other at` the end of the lateral movement.

At the sides of the boat are chafng-rollers Z Z to take the wearof the cables M M. They are mounted in sliding frames or boxes Z', which are held in dovetail guides Z2, fixed on the sides of the boat, and they are caused to move up and down to follow the changes in the height of the cables, such changes beingl due tothe rise and fall of the swinging pipe, to which the cables are attached. The sliding frames are connected with the hoisting mechanism of the swinging pipe in such manner that the rollers are moved simultaneously with the change of position of the outer end ofthe pipe up or down and always kept in line with the cables. For this purpose each slide Z/ is connected with the cable, or with the piston-rod of its hoisting-cylinder, by a rope, DX, ruiming over pulley D2. Each roller has a guard, Z3, between which and the face of the roller the cable is conncd, yet allowed to run freely.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I clai1n,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a dredgingmachine, a cutting implement at the end of a suction-pipe, consisting of a chamber, as C, with a mouth or inlet-aperture, as c, along the bottom, and the twoedged cutting-tool G, having the blades g g, and suspended in such manner as to swing and shift its position with respect to the inlet of the chamber, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. V

2. In combination with the chamber C, the cutting and excavating tool G, having curved blades g g, and suspended within the chamber to swing in its aperture, substantially as described, to operate as set forth.

3. In combination with the suction-chamber C, the swinging cutter G, having curved blades g g, and suspended from the hinged pointsh 7ralong the crown of the chamber, substantially as herein described.

4. In a cutting and excavating implement for dredging-machines, the swinging cutter G, having curved cutting-blades, and the shears or points xed on the blades, substantially as herein described, to operate as set forth.

5. In a cutting and excavating implement for dredging-machines, the swinging picks on the head of the implement, applied to operate as set forth.

6. In a dredging-machine, a suction-pipe supported and adapted to swing from the end of a boat or scow, with a connection by a universal joint with a fixed section of pipe on the boat, and having at the outer end a suctionchamber, c, provided with a swinging cutting implement, and mechanism, substantially as herein described, connected to the swinging suction-pipe and operated from the boat to move the suction-pipe bothlaterally from side ,to side of the boat and in a vertical arc, for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination, with the swinging carrier having an excavating implement mounted on its end, of the cables and the traveling sheaves, substantially as described.

8. The swinging arms having guide-sheaves for cables, and provided with the adjusting or setting rope or connection, as described, and applied in connection with said cables, to opcrate as set forth.

9. The combination of a section of pipe having a socket, a section of pipe with a spherical head, which is adapted to fit and be movable within said socket, and the suspension-bolt attached to the part a by the joint and to the part b by the hub or bearing and nuts, said suspension -bolt being provided with a spring, L, substantially as herein described.

10. In combination with the ball-and-socket ends of the two pipe-sections, the knuckleplate, eyebolt, spring, fixed bearing, and nuts, substantially as described.

IOO

11. In a dredging-machine, the movable` ers applied with relation to the cables, as described, and mechanism, substantially as described, connecting said movable rollers with the lifting devices that move the swinging car- 5 rier in a vertical arc, whereby the position of the rollers with respect to the line of the cables is maintained at all times during Work, as herein set forth.

13. The combination ofthe chains or cables Io M, roller-carriage, guides, and mechanism 14. The combination, With the swinging suction-pipe composed of the stationary and the I5 sliding section on the end of which is mounted a cuttingexcavating implement, of the ropes R and R2 and the running tackle RX and RXX, substantially as herein described.

WILLIAM H. MlLLlKEN. [L s] Witn esses:

EDWARD E. OsBoRN, JN0. L. TAGGARD. 

